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Cleveland Browns: 5 Ways Haslams can best help the team

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 23: (R) Governor Elect of Ohio Mike DeWine talks with Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 23: (R) Governor Elect of Ohio Mike DeWine talks with Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 15: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball after making a catch against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 15: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball after making a catch against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2. Re-think strategy on troubled players

Are the Browns going to continue to take chances on troubled players, and if so, what are they doing to maximize their chances of success? These players are high risk, meaning that there will definitely be more failures than successes, but when the team hits on a player, the payoff can be big.

It may sound like a stupid idea, but in reality, the NFL rules greatly favor the teams by mitigating the effects of league suspensions. The team does not have to pay the salary of the suspended player, and the team does not lose a roster spot.

Nothing bad happens to the team other than the psychological impact of having a negative influence in the locker room. So why not take a chance if there is minimal downside risk?

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The team should certainly seek a major discount when it takes a chance on a talented player with heavy baggage. Antonio Callaway was a good example. He had major problems in college that led to suspensions, and these problems carried over to his time in the NFL.

Cleveland drafted a first-round talent in the fourth round. He had the ability, but they chose to bail immediately when additional problems arose. What good was accomplished by cutting him immediately rather than waiting to see if he might get back into remission?

Thankfully, this reviewer is not entrusted with the responsibilities that the Haslams have, but if I were, I would want to have a cohesive policy on when to take the chance, and when to bail. The thing I really question is cutting a player who is already suspended.

I might be mad as ****, but once he is suspended he essentially does not exist, there is no usually harm in waiting until the suspension is up before deciding whether to pull the plug or not.  Maybe it makes the team look better in the press, or maybe it sends a psychological message, but those are not tangible results.

For example, in this reviewer’s opinion, the Kansas City Chiefs made a major mistake in cutting Kareem Hunt, and the Browns were smart to give him a chance to get his life in order and contribute on the football field.

An exception might be if he were involved in terrorism or overt racism, or something of that nature that could never be forgiven. Pot smoking is normally not in that category of high crimes, though it does need to be punished.

At the same time, the team should never build around a high-risk player. Players like Josh Gordon or Antonio Callaway can not be entrusted to be focal points for the offense or even to be starters, but could be assets as extra wide receivers.

In other words, the team should be prepared to do business if they are absent. If they fail themselves, the coaching staff and team should be prepared with the next man up, with as little fanfare as possible, and not with the weeping and gnashing of teeth that we saw for players like Manziel.

The Haslams have to ask whether as a team the Browns did everything they possibly can to improve the chances of success. Are there facilities in place to help a player like Kareem Hunt succeed in the future. Do they have the rehab resources both within the organization and also with the health care provider (University Hospitals)?

For example, did the Patriots handle Josh Gordon differently than Browns did, and were the results better or worse (the Pats won the Super Bowl with Gordon on suspension, and they ultimately decided to cut ties. But they did get 1,000 receiving yards out of him while he was a Patriot).

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but ownership has to decide for itself, with the benefit of hindsight, whether they are happy or not with the process that they used. Will the Browns draft another layer with Callaway-sized issues, and how will they make the decision?

Ownership needs to be working to ensure that the Browns are out in front on this issue, and able to maximize the chances of success.

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